MATCHPLAY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (MDP)

BUILDING COURT CONFIDENCE

Our program has been uniquely designed to develop confident and positive players in a FUN, SAFE, LEARNING environment.

OVERVIEW

Pure Tennis Academy’s Matchplay Development Program, is the second pillar to success for any tennis player, whether they are new to the sport or aspiring to play professionally.

The program allows for fun, while at the same time ensuring players improve their knowledge and skills to feel a vital sense of achievement.

It builds on the techniques learnt in our coaching lessons (Pillar 1) and provides the necessary framework for the tactics learnt in our squad lessons (Pillar 3) to create confidence and positive thought patterns in all players.

We believe parents are looking for a value-for-money program that accommodates both fun and learning for their child/ren. As such, we have designed this program to provide modified and progressive, skill-based development pathways for players from beginner levels to elite and is structured to deliver the benefits outlined here

ON THE COURT

Each week over the course of the season there will be a main area of focus in our matchplay sessions. It is crucial that players learn, understand and implement certain rules, behaviours and strategies to develop their skills and SPIRIT!

With the following weekly themes, players will gain the knowledge they need to enjoy the sport of tennis for life and to develop enough confidence within themselves to play more competitively.

Players will learn and strengthen their knowledge of the rules of tennis and boundaries applicable to their development phase. A few examples of what we will cover are…

• What to do to start a match• How does serving work and when to change ends• What is in and out for different matchplay circumstances

Players need to understand the scoring system applicable to their development phase and the importance of always knowing what the score is. We will cover points such as…

• The scoring system and how to call it• What to do if you are an umpire• How and when to complete the score sheet

This is one of the most important components of matchplay. Great sportsmanship means that players are not only showing positive development, but are also making the environment on court enjoyable for everyone. We will be encouraging behaviours above and beyond…

• Being completely honest• Always shake hands with all players and umpires• Being respectful of your opponent/s

There is only a limited amount of time available in each session and as such it is imperative that players are taught the necessary skills to manage their time on court appropriately. Some of the practices include…

• Starting each point with the right number of balls• Limiting chat during the match• Being ready to play in a timely manner

A key area of success in a match is communication. We will provide tips on what you can and how you can say things to positively influence a match. This includes…

• Encouraging your doubles partner• Using polite words and tone when talking with an umpire or opponent• Always be positive with your own mindset

Knowing where to position yourself and when to do so is vital! Players will learn court positioning applicable to all different scenarios they might find themselves in during a match. Some differing scenarios include…

• Where to stand as a receiver• Where to move after hitting the ball• How do these differ when playing doubles

Part of the development and progression process is to build up a knowledge base of tactics and strategies that players can call on in different circumstances during a match. Some of the areas we will focus on are…

• Ways to use the court to your advantage• Identify strengths and weaknesses and adjust your play accordingly• How do these change in doubles

The sport of tennis is famous for the etiquette it applies to its code. At Pure Tennis Academy, these behavioural rules underpin what we stand for. As such, we will be teaching the following rules and much more…

• Call out the score in between every point and game• Always lean on the side of caution. IF IN DOUBT…IT’S NOT OUT• Make sure your opponent is ready before serving

Although tie breaks will not form a part of our program week in week out, they may be required in our finals series and also in external competitions that players choose to participate in. We will dedicate sessions to teach this, fairly complicated, part of tennis…

• The differing scoring format• The structure of a tie break• When to change ends

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CONNECTING WITH YOU
At Pure Tennis Academy we feel it is extremely important that you are well informed about your child's matchplay and as such we will provide...
- WEEKLY ACHIEVEMENT UPDATES
- REGULAR IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
- DETAILED COMMUNICATION REGARDING WEEKLY THEMES
- INFORMATION ABOUT ADDITIONAL MATCHPLAY OPPORUNITIES
EMAIL [email protected] TO FIND OUT MORE
With the innovative new app that we have created, we will keep you updated and engaged, like never before!
SEE APP INSTRUCTIONS

COMPETITION

Tennis is a year-round sport that we have split into a Winter and Summer season. Players are able to join the program at any time during the year as our main focus is on individual development rather than their result in the competition.

Weekly Matchplay: Players will compete in both singles and doubles matches against others of varying ages, abilities and stages of development. This variety is critical to the progression of every player as they get the chance to grow their skill sets in all areas of matchplay.

Finals: Over the course of each season, players will establish a ranking that will decide the participants in our end of season finals series. We will run a knockout event on our ‘Finals Day’ to determine our Singles and Doubles Champions and will celebrate the achievements of all MDP players, including our ‘Excellence Award’ winners.